- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to encourage partners in the college sector’s collective bargaining process to implement the recommendations of the report, Lessons Learned – resetting national collective bargaining in the colleges sector.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to encourage employers and trade unions to work together on all aspects of industrial relations in the sector, and this includes working collectively to ensure the collective bargaining process continues to deliver for colleges and their staff.
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Lorna Slater on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what frameworks are in place to ascertain any (a) benefits and (b) consequences of having beavers throughout Scotland's landscape.
Answer
Scotland' Beaver Strategy , published in September 2022, aims to assess the biological, environmental, economic and social implications of beavers. This includes the benefits that beavers can bring alongside mitigating any impacts on other species, habitats, physical processes, land use and wider ecosystem services. We aim to use this knowledge to inform decision making.
NatureScot also operates the Scottish Beaver Mitigation Scheme and keep records of where they have been asked for advice or support with mitigating beaver activity.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its move towards parity of support for part-time students that it announced in its Programme for Government 2023-24, whether it plans to implement the recommendation contained in the report of the independent review of student financial support in Scotland that “the Scottish Government works in collaboration with other interested parties, to look at how the key principles of this Review should be best implemented for part-time students and those currently receiving Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)”.
Answer
We will consider the work already undertaken in this area as we look to implement this Programme for Government commitment. Any previous research will need to be considered in the context of the current financial situation, along with engagement with the sector, relevant stakeholders and with students.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it will reintroduce free COVID-19 lateral flow testing for (a) health and social care staff and (b) the general public.
Answer
Targeted testing is in place to support clinical decision making and surveillance. We are working closely with Public Health Scotland, our clinical advisors and the other UK nations to routinely review our position and the clinical advice on COVID-19 in light of new variants. Evidence to date does not support a return to widespread community testing however we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government which partners in the college sector’s collective bargaining process have yet to provide a formal response to the report, Lessons Learned – resetting national collective bargaining in the colleges sector.
Answer
To date, formal responses have been received from College Employers Scotland and EIS-FELA.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the next round of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund will be announced.
Answer
The Scottish Government will provide an update on FWDF in due course.
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on implementing a local inheritance tax.
Answer
This is not a proposal of the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there are that fall under the remit of the Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition portfolio.
Answer
Noting that Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition (TNZJT) is a significant portfolio, there are currently a number of Scottish Government working groups that fall under the remit of TNZJT. The following non-exhaustive list includes currently active groups that would fall under TNZJT portfolio and are managed by the Scottish Government.
- National strategy for 20mph Working Group
- Zero Emission Truck Taskforce
- Private Water Supply Working Group
- Scottish Blue Carbon Forum
- Contaminated Land Advisory Group
- Zero Emission Truck Taskforce
- Marine Litter Strategy Steering Group
- Transport Sector Skills & CESAP Transport Policy Working Group
- Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan Implementation Steering Group
- Single Use Cups Charge Advisory Group
- Waste Data Strategy Board
- National Flytipping Forum
- Food Waste Reduction Programme Board
- Recycling Improvement Fund Programme Board
- Waste & Resources Sector Forum
- Joint Scottish Government/Local Government Strategic Steering Group on Circular Economy & Waste
- National Strategy for Economic Trans Private Investment in Natural Capital Working Group
- Biodegradable Municipal Waste Landfill Programme Board
- Biodiversity Programme Advisory Group
- Biodiversity Programme Stakeholder Engagement Group
- Science Advisory Group for Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
- Deposit Return Scheme Ministerial Strategic Assurance Group
- Deposit Return Scheme Executive Oversight Group
- Deposit Return Scheme Sector-specific Producers and Hospitality Providers Working Group
- Deposit Return Scheme Sector-specific Retailers Working Group
- National Transport Strategy Delivery Board
- National Transport Strategy Business Group
- Orkney Ferry Replacement Task Force
- Shetland Ferry Replacement Task Force
- A83 Taskforce Group
- Forth Bridges Forum
- LEZ Leadership Group
- LEZ Communications Group
- LEZ Consistency Group
- LEZ Enforcement Group
- Queensferry Crossing Ice Accretion Working Group
- Queensferry Crossing Ice Accretion Peer Review Group
- A9 Road Safety Group
- Road Safety Strategic Partnership Board
- Road Safety Operational Partnership Group
- Motorcycle safety group
- Three Local Partnership Forums for Road Safety across Scotland (east, west and north)
- The Parking Standards Advisory Group
- The Traffic Regulation Order Review Group
- Scottish Road Research Board
- National strategy for 20mph Working Group
- Road Traffic Fatality Working Group
- Transport Scotland Pavement Forum
- Scottish Traffic Signs Working Group
- Roads for All forum
- The Active Travel Delivery Partners’ Data, Monitoring and Evaluation Group
- Mobility as a Service Working Group
- Accessible Travel Steering Group
- Operators Smart Steering Group
- Zero Emission Truck Taskforce
- Bus Taskforce
- Environment and Economy Leaders' Group (EELG)
- Cleaner Air for Scotland 2: Ministerial Group
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government which health facilities have been confirmed to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, following physical inspections of the estate.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19366 on 21 July 2023 in relation to the desktop review and a full list of the 254 properties identified as having two or more characteristics consistent with the presence of RAAC was placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 64387). NHS Scotland Assure also published the information on their website on 15 September. An update on progress with the national survey programme, including the list of NHS buildings where RAAC is identified, will also be published by NHS Scotland Assure and each local NHS Board.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 3 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) it and (b) its agencies are doing to support Doors Open Days in the Highlands and Islands region.
Answer
The Scottish Government values the impressive work that the Scottish Civic Trust does to coordinate the national Doors Open Days festival each year, which is the largest free heritage festival in Scotland and delivers many benefits by connecting people with their local historic environment. This is why the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development was pleased to provide an opening address for the festival and met with the Scottish Civic Trust recently in-person to discuss the opportunities and challenges the festival offers.
Financial support for the Scottish Civic Trust’s Doors Open Days and My Place Photography Competition has been secured through our lead public body for heritage, Historic Environment Scotland, which has committed over £100,000 each for this and the next two years from its Partnership Fund.
